Evening Star Newspaper, December 9, 1927, Page 11

LITIZENS PROTECT - DITY'S INTERESTS Joint Committee’s Work for Fiscal Law and Surplus Recalled. —(Continued_from First Page.) Parture by Congress from the half- and-hglf plan without the adoption n adequate substitute. It kept| Up-to-date comparative statistics re- | lating to taxation and assessments in other cities and appeared in De- cember, 1919, before the House Dis trict committee, and in April, 1920, [ before the Senate appropr committee. In each ease it outlined | its platform of principles contained In argument before the select joint| committee of Cong s in 191 Platform of principles was as fol- lows: ! “We contend, first, that the United States should contribute largely to the expense of the District: second, that this contribution should be a fixed and definite proportion; third, that this proportion should bhe at least hailf.” Contentions Answered. In June, 1922, Con pproved the District : bill for graph which contentions First United States will contribute largely to the expenses of the Capital, but the District must pay more in taxes, Specifically in the taxes on in | bles, and in the surrender of sources of revenue hitherto enjoved sively by the Capital municir second, that the United State contribute to the upbuildir Capital a fixed and definite propor- tion of the cost of such upbuilding; third, that the proportion should be | 40 per cent, instead of 50 per cent, as provided by the act of 18 Thus the movement in Congress in 1915 to in ate and perhaps change the fi plan_in operation since 1878 bore fruit in 1922 in the form of a new understanding. It embodied all of the principles ad- vocated by the Citizens' Joint Commit- tee, but changed in some desree the manner in which they would be plied, a change based on changed con- | ditions. The new fiscal pl: these th had increased building to be borne and decreased its own, making thereby less effect Edmonston fifty-fifty plan against excessive tion of an unrepresented commdnity by an alien and exclusive legislature, it had reaffirmed and continued as per- manent legislation the principle of definite proportionate contribution by the Nation and the local community for building the Capital. It was upon retention of this prin- ‘iple that the Citizens’ Joint Committee had centered its guns. And at last the prospects seemed bright that the ill feeling and controversy between the District and Congress on the one hand, and the House and the Senate on the other, always brought about by con sideration of the District’s annual sup- ply bill, would disappear. But there remained several points which the Citizens’ Joint Committee desired clear- before it could dishand or __|rest on its law Debt Tssue Raised. One of these tions concerned payvment of remaining intere contributions to retire the f 3.65 bonds anthorized by Congzr in 1874 to meet extraordinarily heavy ures for city improvement principally the establishing, grading ind paving of streets and avenues, nstruetion of s, planting of ¢ the rebuilding shington after { continued neglact. nt of this debt and the on should not be affected 40 basis of apportion- ment, the Citizens’ Joint Committee intained, but on the fifty-fifty basis under which it had been contracted. To support its claim the Citizens Joint Committee had already quoted from cts of Congress as early as 1874 and from subsequent acts, showing that when the debt was contracted Con- gress had teed that the Federal vernment would bear a proportion- te part of the interest and contribu- tions to the sinking, fund. it this proportion would be had heen left in doubt. But had appointed its select joint commif ecide the question of determining the proper proportion to be contributed by the United States and the District of Columbia in up- building the Capital under the new organic act, and as this committee had determined upon a fifty-fifty basis, the only just conclusion to be reached was that this debt should be d on the same basis. This had been the conclusion, also, of the clect joint committee of 1915, and of the controller of the Treasury who rendered an official opinion on the mat- ter in 1914, and Congress in preceding vears contributed 50 per cent of the funds to retire the bonds. The second important question con- rned the surplus revenues from Dis- ct taxes accumulated under the half- If plan. The bill ps ng into effect, for th by the new joint committee to examine into the in effect to state the situ- d to the account be- tween the United St i of Columb & Co., Inc. Exclusive Washington Agency STACY-ADAMS SHOES For Gentlemen e THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, DE functlons of this joint committee were summarized as follows: (1) To ascertain and report what surplus, if any, the District has to its credit on the hooks of the Treasury which has been acquired by taxation and from licenses. (2) To ascertain and report on what sums have been spent since July 1, 1 by the Dis ict and the United States respective. | Ci . whether for building or for main- taining the Capital or conducting t governmental activities of the Dis of Columbia. (3) To find out what money may be due, either morally or legally, from one to the pther. (1) Such sums due either the United ates or the District, upon which In- terest has not been paid, shall be con- sidered as bearing interest at the rate of 3 per cent annually from the time | when the principal should have been paid. Disregard Brought Surplu ad been brot wrd by Congress of | the explicit wording of the orsanic law | of 1878, The only District of Columbia | taxation vized and directed by [ a8 this law w given to the Com aise one half of the amount of Di appropriations pre viously made o h the understand- would match it with its half, And in practice C gress repeatedly collected more in Dis trict taxes than it matched, and then spent the surplus without matching it, in violation of law. of the select joint committee of Con- gress to determine the amount of such expenditur Banker: Board, the Ro Club, the Civitan Clut politan Club. prepared the c fore the new select joint committee ap- pointed to inquire into the surplus. The brief of the committee pointed out that the accumulated i 1878 amounted to $4,676,4 enla rgued that there was no off: troller surplus in the sh tes credits eith tween 1874 And it de | cerning interest in the a 1923, if applied terms 1 the surplus, 1d | surplus, bill for with the as not reduce th istrict’s rlus, s interest provisio propriation bill for , Wi any money was found due either to the United Stat i i should be cons terest at ear from the should have been paid. been some suggestion that the United tes would go fa It was the duty To_the which the Real e Club, the Kiwanis nd the Cosmo- This enlarged committee | mittee for Washington be- | 154, Associatio pe of United in the period be- | th the ap. that it r the Dis the rate 3 per cent time the principal into the past Silk Squares and Scarfs Of Heavy Crepe de Chine in Hosts of Lovely New Styles 32.95 Hand-blocked designs— painted and printed de- signs—embroidered de- signs—Ilarge and small de- signs—in striking effects or subdued colors. A Christmasy collection— and of exceptional quality. Others, $1.95 to §9.95 the District. There had| Two adopted the 60-40 system of appropri- ating for the District, it ignored its in search of counter claims in favor of the United States to offset the Dis- trict’s surplus, and that interest on such counter claims might establish an s, indebtedness of the District to the Fed- The Citizens’ Joint Compittee been enlarged in 192 stituent organization up the body in 1915 were ¢ Club, the District of Columbia eral Government. Work Won Recognition, of the contentions of the Citizens' Joint Committee before the surplus inquiry committee came in the form of a report with which the District is well familiar, found a net balance of $4,435,- of surplus District revenues in the Treasury, to which the District was entitled and which should be ap- propriated by Congress for the use of Later this surplus was cd after a report of the Con- General, which bore out con- tentions of District Auditor Donovan t an additional sum of $819,373.83 Recognition 1878. | was due the District tion on Decemb Joint Committee pleaded for the ment into legislation of the findings on asking further that the|ap ing accumulat f ratio, be ence of the surplus by the District in the Treasury, although its departure from the proportionate m of appropriating that money too well known toda years after AR The com- Governments. In another peti- 4, 1924, the i under the expended on Congress did recog- | today. only. been applied. Congress had CEMBER 9, 1997. own findings regarding the equity of such system by enacting the appro- priation bill for the fiscal year 1925 with a provision (applying to that year only) limiting the Federal Gov- ernment’s contribution to a lump sum of $9,000,000. The House utilizes its legal right to make certain exceptions, in appropriating for the District on a | proportionate basis, by writing the |} whole District bill as an exception. The substantive law remained, specify- ing definite proportional contributions between the District and the Federal But the House, taking advantage of the lack of time left for Senate consideration in the press of |definite accumulated and important national legislation, beat the devil around the stump and ignored substantive law. Tactics Continued. By an application of similar tactics, this departure from the atio begun in the enactment in 1924 of the ppropriation bill for the fiscal year 1925 has been continued in subsequent ropriation bills for the through the fiscal year 1928, under which the Capital is being maintained The principle of fixed appro- priation has remained as a_principle For four years now it has not During this time there have been efforts by members of the House to destroy the principle alto- gether, in addition to disregarding it. Looking upon these year-to-year de- partures from the fixed ratio principle as an experiment which would afford fixed r: District act of 1922, proportionate ented community; ing an i temporarily, obligation: ample demonstration of its previous contentions, the Citizens' Joint Com- mittee remained alert lest the prin- ciple of fixed ratio itself be utterly destroyed. An attempt in this direc- tion came in 1925, when Representa- tive Cramton of Michigan proposed his well known bill which would have | butions for the Capital, estjmates for stituted lump-sum payment by the ation for Capital upbuilding in lieu of definite proportional contribution payment provided in the new organic The Citizens’ Joint Committee coun- tered with a brief, again pointing out that the bill would, first, destroy the contributien system which after seven years of ex- haustive and prolonged discussion had been vindicated by retention in the new organic act of 1922; (second) that the bill would destroy the District's safeguard against excessive and un- just taxation by doing away with the only check upon Congress in its ex- clusive privilege of taxing an unrepre- (third) it would stroy the peace in fiscal relations|has been upheld by every fair-minded | brought about by the adoption of the | new fiscal plan of 1922 by again ra e never to be settled, even without wearisome and wasteful controversy; (fourth) it wonld set up a false conception of the Na-|can be maintained by some substitute tion’s duty toward the Capital and put the lump-sum contribution of the Nation in the light of a gracious gift, | Citizens’ Joint Committee will be ready, bestowed generously upon & city which could not, alone, meet its just (fifth) it would destroy b 4 what was left of the chance that the District’s accumulated surplus still re- maining in the Treasury would be spent in the manner of its accumula- tion, viz., under the 50-50 ratio; (sixth) the bill advanced: the theory that by separating District and Federal contri- District maintenance based on District revenue would not be cut by the Bud- get Bureau, but it did not emphasize the fact that the Federal contribution would be cut whenev~r Congress saw fit, and (seventh) the bill would re- store to the Nation its pledge of pro- portionate contribution in Capital up. building without likewise restoring to the Capital the self-taxing power of which it had been deprived. ‘The Cramton bill was defeated. Every indication is that the present session of Congress will witness a re. newal of thé old struggle over fiscal relations between the District and Federal Governments. The struggle will probably center about the feasi- bility of returning to a principle which body of men willing to give it ex- haustive inquiry—the principle of na- lonal responsibility and _generous national contribution in building the Capital City—or whether this principle for the fixed ratio system. ‘Whatever course is discussed, the as it has been for the last 12 years, to present arguments for organized ‘Washington. For One Who Loves Pretty Things Silk Negligees and Quilted Robes $10 Many of These Luxurious Models Are Samples —And Are Worth From $13.95 to $20.00 Negligees of crepe de chine, crepe-back satin, satin and novelty silks in side tie, belted or draped models. Adorned with laces, con- trasting colors, or folds of self material. Extrava- gantly lovely—but not ex- travagant. Quilted Lounging Robes, stitched in many effective new designs. Rich satins in solid or changeable or- chid, nile, turquoise, water- melon, coral, honeydew, black and combinations. (Fifth Floor.) (Main Floor.) & There Is Real Economy as _Well as Unadulterated Satisfaction in Getting the Shoe That Suits Your Foot Best, There are about 125 dif- ferent sizes in the Stacy- Adams lines of shoes—and the variety of styles appeals to the voung man and his older brother with equal ELOPE BAG $7%0 Dashing. — daring —modernistic effects —in dull black ante- lope, with bright metals. Crepe de Chine Gowns 82.95 Lustrous crepe de chine mod- els, well made throughout and adorned with fine laces. In beautiful pastels. Styles that the most critical gift seeker will approve. Sizes 15 to 17. Other Models, $3.95 to $19.95 (Main Floor.) Lovely Imported and Domestic Lingerie For more than three gen- erations Stacy-Adams shoes have set and maintained the standard for “first” quality and withal have held prices at a reasonable level always. Professional Shoe Fitters Fit all Shoes Here. EDMONSTON & CO. (Incorporated) CARL M. BETZ, Manager 612 13th Street NS | | Bet. F and G Sts. {olc———|o]c———[njalc———{o]———|g] KX EX XX EREXEREX XX EXEXH " 15-Jewel Gold Wrist Watches 1 315.75 Attractive styles in 14-kt. white gold watches; choice of many smart shapes; engraved cases, and some with fancy dial. With one - year guarantee. Dainty—desirable—durable. (Main Floor.) [a] ———|n]c——|o[——[a|——=[asF—]u] Philippine and Belgian Un- derthings, painstakingly hand- made and hand embroidered. With scalloped or hand-rolled edges, in dainty contrasting colors. All of soft nainsook. Domestic garments of voile and nainsook, with fine pleatings, ABL’\(;l;(‘d%nt,EI}?pei wlml sil- " Irish and filet lace trimmings. Ve Ini ; clasp stone- AV Vhi == s ' 5 ?y,..}, "/‘.-"“, White or pastels.» ks . Black Antelope; back o i strap—with gold finished swinging handle. . The *“Monogram"—black antelope; large knob in bright gold finish. . Black Antelope; back strap; silver kid piping. C. Black Pinseal; with safety strap clasp; back strap. | | E !J I Novel Imported Atomizer 31.95 Artistically designed atomizers in an assortment of interesting shapes and wanted sizes. Styles and colors to harmonize with the fittings of afy dressing table. Other Designs From $1.00 to $12.95 (Main Floor.) Galucha Grain; in mode; large knob; back strap. . s ',;,,v".( 5 AN Silk Costume SRR R Slips $9.95 Splendid selection of radium, crepe de chine and dream satin slips; trimmed with contrast- ing shades or with lace; others in tailored style. Bodice tops. Many with hip hem. Pastel or street shades. The six bags described only suggest the extensive assortment which we have assembled for your choosing at $7.50. Designed for every occasion, in colors and leathers for every costume —and at a price that every gift buyer will appreciate. Just for Christmas— And Lower Than We've Ever Sold It—The “So-E-Z” 595 Portable -Electric Sewing Machine $39.50 The Gift That Fits in Any Room The New Home Sewing Machine Com- pany’s fine little portable weighs but a few pounds and is easily tucked out of sight when not in use. Complete with attach- ments—ready to plug in your electric socket. Free instructions. Needles, Belts, Oil and Parts for All Makes of Machines on Sale Here. - TheHecarCoF T EIEEEIETECESECEECELE I (1 (Main Floor.) (Fifth Floor.) Embroidered Silk Shawls Gracefully Accompany the Evening Gown 512.95 Large designs em- broidered on crepe de chine of fine quality. With deep fringe. Choose from white on white, colors on white; also colors on flesh, coral, maize, orchid and black. Exquisitely gift- like. Others, $7.95 to $24.75. Pearl-On-Amber Sets—10 Pieces In Lovely Shades of Green, Orchid, Blue, Shell; Also W hite . Imitation pearl‘on-amber dresser sets in attractive design. Consisting of mirror, comb, brush, puff box, hair receiver, file, hook, horn, buffef and cuticle knife. A gift that combines usefulness and beauty—at an outstandingly low price. s Handkerchiefs 3 in a Gift Box 50c Wide variety of women’s imported and domestic handkerchiefs. Fine cot- tons and linens—white and colors; with pretty embroidered corners. White “ and Colored Linen Hand- kerchiefs, embroidered or scallo] with cut-out corners; 2 for.. Newest Styles in Linens, Fanc; ilk, Novelty Prints and other wntg ;0‘; Sketched \ $1495 $9.75 3 7 N to (Main Floor.)